What is XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE?

XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE is an automated job scheduler for HP-UX, Sun Solaris, OpenVMS, Tru64 UNIX, Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 and Linux. 

Why should I purchase XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE?

With greater workloads consuming more and more IT department resources, businesses are searching for ways to automate and manage large quantities of discrete tasks. The question is no longer who will perform these tasks, but which scheduling tool should you implement to automate the tasks.

XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE however, is capable of much more than automating tasks; it allows you to customise your jobs into conditional, programmable independent streams across HP-UX, Sun Solaris, OpenVMS, Tru64 UNIX, Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 and Linux. Its features include a wide range of time based, resource dependent and variable scheduling options that provide unmatched versatility and simplicity to your jobs. XS EnterpriseSCHEDULE also enables you to monitor the progress of jobs in real time, and will deliver notices via broadcast messages, email or via your chosen software tool when abnormalities occur.

XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE is the scheduler of choice for enterprises that span a wide range of operating systems. Regardless of the platform chosen for the client the controlling central server will reliably manage job activity across the enterprise. Added to this is the fact that XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE undergoes continual development, ensuring that your investment will be supported into the future.

Which operating systems can XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE be hosted on?

XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE Servers are available for HP-UX, Sun Solaris, OpenVMS, Tru64 UNIX, Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 and Linux . The New Windows GUI and Web Client can connect to any of the servers for a unified client approach.

How do I see the demo jobs in XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE?

If you haven't loaded XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE's demo job set, you may be missing out on some of the capabilities of
XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE. The demo jobs demonstrate the job scheduler's features such as initiates, prerequisites and variables.

The XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE Demos can be loaded using the Assistant. To load the Demos:

1.Choose Start on the Windows Task bar
2.Select Programs, and then XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE
3.Choose from the XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE desktop.
4.Select the demo(s) to be loaded from the drop down. Choose as many of the demos as needed
5.If your home directory is not displayed, change it by clicking the button.
6.Click on the button to load the demo and display the layout.

The demo jobs will be created below the designated directory. This procedure will also make a default layout which displays these demo jobs the next time you use the MOTIF GUI client.

Can I convert existing Polycenter Scheduler jobs to ISE SCHEDULE jobs without it modifying my jobs data?

Yes. ISE's XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE comes with a simple conversion routine that converts your complete Polycenter SCHEDULER environment to the ISE EnterpriseSCHEDULE environment. All features are converted including dependencies, commands, resource requirements and marked calendars. The three step procedure in the SCHEDULE_LIBRARY directory, SCHEDULE_CVT_PLYSCH.COM will allow you to convert your Polycenter Scheduler jobs easily and quickly.To convert your environment, locate the following COM file:

schedule_library:schedule_cvt_plysch.com

Open the file in an editor for detailed step-by-step instructions on how to run the conversion routine.

How do I create a new SCHEDULE group in OpenVMS?

XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE group numbers allow you to divide your scheduling work into more than one group. This makes it easier to separate jobs by categories (e.g. accounting jobs vs IS jobs) and reduces the chances of corrupting the
XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE database. The steps in creating a new group are as follows:

1 - First use the following command to create the new group number. This example uses 1, but any number from 1-9 may be used.

$ @sys$startup:schedule_startup:schedule_startup new_group 1

2 - Next, use the following command to start the server:

$ @sys$startup:schedule_startup boot 1

or use the sysman command for multiple nodes:

$ mc sysman
> set env /node=(node1,node2,…)
> do @sys$startup:schedule_startup boot 1
> exit

3 - Next, define the new group number logical for all Schedule activity

$ define schedule_group_number 1

4 - Define the standard procedures for the new group:

$ @schedule_library:schedule_standard_procs

5 - Finally define the standard SCHEDULE reports for the new group:

$ schedule @schedule_library:standard_reports.schedule

Can I add a custom selectable menu item to the MOTIF GUI?

You can add your own selections to the XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE MOTIF GUI so you can perform custom actions on a job by selecting this item. To do this, select Job menu additions from the Options menu in the MOTIF GUI. Select both Job Control and Update data buttons and enter the text you want to see in the menu under Menu Text. Next, enter the command using 'p1' that you want to perform on the job. For example to put the job into the "Hold in Queue" state so that the job goes into the hold state when it is submitted, enter:

Menu Text: Hold job
DCL command: $SCHEDULE MODIFY 'p1' /SUBMIT=HOLD

Click on OK and then right click on the job. You will see the menu item which can be selected to put the job in Hold.

How do I combine multiple XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE databases in OpenVMS?

There is an easy way to combine multiple EnterpriseSCHEDULE databases into one central database. All the directories, jobs, variables, calendars, etc. contained in both databases will be combined into a single entity that can be used to centralize scheduling activities.

First, stop the server on the node to be merged:

$ schedule server stop

Now run the command :

$ convert sch1_control_from_other_machine.dat sch1_control.dat /merge

This will merge the main databases. If you want to maintain all history, you can merge the history files the same way. The only difference is that they use the word history in place of control in the database file name. Once the database is merged, restart the server with the command:

$ @sys$startup:schedule_startup boot

This command must be run for each node in the cluster.

Is there a demo tryout period available?

The demo period is 45 days during which time you can exercise all of XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE's many features. If more time is needed, an extension may be requested.

How difficult is installation of XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE?

Installation is simple using the handy Quick Start Guides.

Can you schedule jobs on WindowsNT/2000/XP/2003, UNIX, Linux and OpenVMS workstations on your network?

XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE is a cross platform scheduling package that allows scheduling of jobs on HP-UX, Sun Solaris, OpenVMS, Tru64 UNIX, Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 and Linux.

Can I run reports on the XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE database?

XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE incorporates a complete Report Writer for detailed reporting on your database records and job history data. XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE ships with a variety of standard reports. Reports are fully customizable and can incorporate any aspect of the job's record or history. For instance, you can run a report listing all XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE jobs that are to run on a certain date from the XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE database. For a history report, you can run a report of all jobs that failed or succeeded on a certain day.

Is it possible to see a live view of job activity?

The GUI interface displays a graphical live view of jobs as the jobs status changes. Icons represent the queues that the job is entering and small graphs show the CPU usage of the job. In addition, both the GUI interface and the command line interface display queue information as a flowing text display that depicts the changing status of the job.

What are job sets and how do they affect my daily runs?

A job set is a set of jobs connected by initiates and prerequsites and usually initiated by a scheduled job or jobs. The job group is graphically illustrated in the XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE Windows Layout which displays the jobs in a job group as well as the connections, variables, text etc. associated with that group.